A sweet story about a pig who knows he's really a bunny Most piglets want to be pigs when they grow up. Not Liam. He wants to be a bunny. Even if it takes a lot of practice to learn how to hop...and to eat salad. Even if no one believes that a piggy can be a bunny. With a lot of determination, and a little help from his grandma, Liam is determined to make his dream come true. For children who put on a cape or a tutu, who dream of being someone or something different, Piggy Bunny by Rachel Vail, with illustrations by Jeremy Tankard, offers a reassuring and fun opportunity to believe in themselves. This picture book is perfect for families looking for LGBTQ-friendly children's books. The sweet story about about identity, acceptance, and coming out to family members speaks to the queer and transgender experience, as well as the experience of any children who know they're different. Liam is a piglet with “the kind of problem that is called heartbreaking”: he wants to be the Easter Bunny, but instead of floppy ears and a spring in his step, he has triangular lobes and trotters. His family is generally unsympathetic to the cause; his big sister tells him to “deal with it.” Luckily, Grandma knows that with just the right costume, ordered online, a heartbreaking problem can become a fixable one. Some of the humor in the text may tickle adults more than kids (e.g.,“Hello, my name is Liam, and I’ll be your Easter Bunny”), but Tankard (Grumpy Bird, 2007) extends the laughs with his broad-brushstroke digital illustrations. A piglet with a belly button is funny enough, but Dad’s mustache and Grandma’s oversize glasses are the real snort inducers. Picture books about pigs and bunnies are perennial kid favorites, and this one, which contains nice sentiments about believing in yourself, is likely to be enjoyed long after the Easter Bunny’s departure. Preschool-Grade 2. --Ann Kelley “This will be an enjoyably loopy and stealthily reassuring readaloud any time of the year, and it would make a terrifically offbeat Easter entry.” ― BCCB, starred review “Picture books about pigs and bunnies are perennial kid favorites, and this one, which contains nice sentiments about believing in yourself, is likely to be enjoyed long after the Easter Bunny's departure.” ― Booklist “A small piglet with a big dream--to be the Easter Bunny--will have readers laughing out loud in this spunky outing about self-esteem.” ― Publishers Weekly “Liam was born a piglet, but he knew in his heart that he was meant to be the Easter Bunny. …The pigs are drawn in heavy black lines but the body position and other touches like the way arms are held convey the emotions of Liam, family and friends. The colors that make up backgrounds on the pages and varying shades of pink among the pigs add interest.” ― Children's Literature “Tankard's characteristic bold black lines outline his anthropomorphic pigs, and pastel-colored backgrounds reflect Liam's mood.” ― School Library Journal “Though the believe-in-yourself theme has been told in many ways, Liam holds his own with his quiet determination. Who can resist a piglet who introduces himself with 'Hello, my name is Liam and I'll be your Easter Bunny'?” ― Kirkus Reviews Rachel Vail is the author of children’s books including Justin Case, Sometimes I’m Bombaloo, and Righty and Lefty. She is also the author of several books for teens and middle grade readers, including If We Kiss, You Maybe, Gorgeous, Wonder, and Never Mind, which she wrote with Avi. Vail was born in New York City and grew up in New Rochelle, NY, just down the street from her future husband, though she didn't know that until much later. She attended Georgetown University, where she earned her B.A. in English and Theater. She lives in New York City with her husband and two sons. Jeremy Tankard was born in Cape Town, South Africa, and has lived in South Carolina, Kentucky, and Tennessee before making his home in Canada. His books include Grumpy Bird , Boo Hoo Bird (both for Scholastic) and Me Hungry! (Candlewick). Praise for his work includes: "He's a talented little oaf" (his mom), and "I love the magic noodly bits!" (some art director for some magazine).